20. The Sound of Animals Fighting – The Maiden

This year’s List kicks off with a genuine oddity. I had heard of The Sound of Animals Fighting before, but this – their fourth record and first in over 15 years – was my introduction to their work. I’ve seen them called a supergroup, but I think they’re better understood as a ‘collective’. The Sound of Animals Fighting features a cast that is both revolving and huge. I’m yet to revisit any of their earlier material from the 2000s, but with The Maiden, at least, all those cooks have served up one of the most diverse records I can think of. The plus side to this is that there are so many different things to enjoy here; the inevitable downside is that it doesn’t really hang together. Indeed, this feels more like a playlist than an album. But it’s a super fun playlist. To give a few examples: the title track is post-hardcore; ‘The Horror’ is hip-hop; ‘Pretty Like Cake’ is trip-hop; ‘Kanda’ is dancey electronica; and ‘Bangladesh’ mixes post-rock with something approaching nu metal (wait... come back!). A joyful, eclectic mess.